- You should never shorten a fan palm
- Cut brown or yellow leaves
- Always remove stubs from the palm trunk
- Cut side shoots to propagate the fan palm
Like all palm species, the fan palm is never cut back. However, removing dried, yellowed or bent leaves is occasionally necessary but must be done with care. What you need to consider when pruning fan palms.
Dry and diseased leaves can be removed at any time
You should never shorten a fan palm
Fan palms only have one vegetation point. If you cut this, the palm tree will die in the worst case. You should therefore never simply cut off the tip of a fan palm.
Since a fan palm can grow to a considerable size, you should consider the space required if you want to grow this palm indoors.
Cut brown or yellow leaves
The fan palm always develops a few brown or yellow leaves. This is a natural process and nothing to worry about. If many fronds turn brown or dry up, you should check the location and care of the fan palm and also look for pests.
You can cut discolored, dried up or kinked leaves. The best time to trim the fronds is just before the winter break, before moving the plant into winter quarters or preparing for the winter outdoors.
Use a sharp knife that you have cleaned well beforehand so that you do not transfer any germs or pests to the palm tree. Cut the fronds right off the trunk, leaving no stubs.
Always remove stubs from the palm trunk
Occasionally, the fan palm loses leaves. A small remnant of the frond stalk usually remains on the trunk. Be sure to remove this as the remains allow moisture and bacteria to enter the plant. By cutting, you prevent the palm from getting sick.
Cut side shoots to propagate the fan palm
Fan palms are usually propagated from seeds. Side shoots occasionally form next to the main trunk. You can cut these to use as cuttings for fan palm propagation.
The cuttings are cut in spring. Put the shoots in pots with potting soil and keep them moderately moist and warm.
tips
Livistona palms are often classified as fan palms, although in this case they are umbrella palms. The care of these two palm species is similar, you should not cut back Livistona either.